The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawns of Del Mar as Sarah nervously recounted her family’s ordeal to Ted Cook, a seasoned estate planning lawyer. She and her brother, Mark, had always assumed their parents’ affairs were “in order,” a common refrain she’d later learn was often tragically misleading. Their father, a retired marine engineer, passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind a complex web of assets and a will that, upon closer inspection, proved woefully inadequate for the realities of their modern lives.

What Steps Should I Take to Define My Estate Planning Goals? Defining your estate planning goals is the foundational step, …

Read more